PIKA

2852

PILCOMAYO

straight, and is without spines.   It is often
called beetroot, because of its red root.
PFKA, a little animal which lives at high
altitudes in Asia, Europe and the western
part of the United States. It is sometimes
called cow/, calling hare and little chief Imre,

CALLING HARE
although it resembles a guinea pig more than
a hare. The American species is about seven
inches long and has only a rudimentary tail.
Its fur is a dirty black, but lighter beneath.
The animals live above the timber line, in
large communities, usually in piles of loose
debris, advertising their presence by a chorus
of squeals. They are vegetarians, and prov-
idently store up grass, hay and vegetables
for winter bedding and fodder.
PIKE, the name of a group of fishes
found in the waters of Europe and North
America, and belonging to the same family
as the perch. The wall-eyed pike, common
in America from Lake Champlain westward
to Saskatchewan, Canada, is the best known
species, and is highly prized. It is found ia
greatest abundance in Lake Erie. It is also
known as the yellow pike and the dory, a
name applied to it by the French Cana-
dians. In some localities this fish is wrongly
called a pickerel. It is one of the most im-
portant fishes propagated by the United
State Fish Commission.
Another species, the sauger, is found from
the Saint Lawrence River westward through
the Great Lakes. It is a game fish worthy
of the skill of the most experienced anglers.
See perch.
PIKE, zebuiot montgomeby (1779-
1813), an American soldier and explorer, for
whom Pike's Peak, in Colorado, was named.
He was born at Lamberton, K J., and was
taken in childhood to Eastern Pennsylvania,
where he later entered the army, becoming
first-lieutenant in 1800. Five years later
he led an exploring expedition into the ter-
ritory of the Louisiana Purchase. In 1806
he ascended the Missouri Biver and the Osage
into the present state of Kansas, thence

southward to the Arkansas River, which he
ascended to the site of Pueblo, Colo., dis-
covering Pike's Peak. Pike was captured
by the Spanish while searching for the Red
River, but was later released. He was pro-
moted through various ranks to that of
colonel, and was nominated brigadier-gen-
eral, but died before this commission had
the Senate's confirmation. He was killed by
an explosion in the expedition against York,
Canada, in the War of 1812. He was the
author of An Account of an Expedition to
the Sources of the Mississippi and Through
the Western Parts of Louisiana, and a Tour
through the Interior Parts of New Spain.
PIKE'S PEAK, best known of the Rocky
Mountain peaks in Colorado. Its snow-
capped summit rises 14,108 feet above sea
level. Pine forests cover its slopes to a
height of almost 12,000 feet. Above this it
consists of barren granite rocks. A rack-and-
pinion railway, built in 1891, ascends to its
summit, where a magnificent, widely-ex-
tended view of the great plains and moun-
tains has awed thousands of visitors every
summer. A post-office and little curio shop
are found on the summit. A searchlight
which plays upon the environs adds much to
their impressiveness and majesty.
PILAS'TER, in architecture, a square
pillar, protecting from a pier or a wall to
the extent of from one-fourth to one-third of
its breadth. Pilasters originated in Grecian
architecture. In the Roman, they were some-
times tapered like columns and finished with
capitals, modeled after the order with which
they were used. In the early Renaissance or-
namented pilasters were very common. See
column.
PI'LATE, pontius, the Roman procurator
of Judea, Samaria and part of Indumea from
a. d. 26 to 36. He misunderstsood, and was
misunderstood by, the Jews, whose com-
plaints led ultimately to his recall to Rome.
Pilate is conspicuous in history in connec-
tion with the trial and crucifixion of Jesus.
He examined Jesus and was convinced that
he was not politically dangerous, but feared
to oppose the people (see Matthew XXVII).
Pilate was removed from his office by Vitel-
lius prefect of Syria, in a* b. 36, and, ac-
cording to tradition, was later banished Iby
Caligula to Gaul, where he died some years
afterwards,
PILCOMAYO, geeUtoiMflfyo, a shallow
river of South America, rising in Bo*